You’re getting ready to plan your summer vacation in Seaside Park.  You know a general idea of where you want to go, but what you really need is the perfect place to stay.  While hotel stays have their advantages, renting a home is becoming more and more popular for good reason.  Spending your vacation in a home can be less stressful, more private, and more relaxing.  There’s a lot of things to consider when trying to find the perfect summer rental and we’ll review some of them here.

When are you going –  It’s best to try and book your rental as soon as possible.  As soon as you know when you’re planning on going, start looking. It’s helpful to be a little flexible on timing when you’re looking for a rental home versus a hotel.  Each home can only be occupied by 1 family at a time, so it may not be as easy to find availability if you are locked in to one certain week.  Also, some property managers will offer early booking discounts for the relief of knowing their property is rented, so don’t be afraid to ask!

Location, location, location – This goes without saying, but we’re gonna say it anyway!  Don’t just zero in on the property itself, but look at what’s around.  Are you planning on spending all day, every day on the beach?  You might want to spend a little extra on a beachfront home.  Looking instead for just a quiet place to relax?  Make sure the rental is not next door to the boardwalk or arcade.  What if (gasp) it rains while you’re on vacation?  What is there to do?  Know what you want and make sure the rental ticks all the right boxes.

Who’s coming – Is this a quiet week away with just you and your partner?  Maybe you don’t need the 5-bedroom rental.  Are you bringing pets?  Make sure pets are allowed and ask about any additional fees or rules that go along with that.  Are there kids coming?  If you have young ones, you should find out if there are baby gates available for stairways and find out where all the bedrooms are.  You may not want the kids on the first floor and yourself on the third.  Have someone coming that has physical limitations?  The 3-story house may not be right for you, but the sprawling ranch with handicap accessible ramps might be.

What exactly are you renting and who are you renting it from – Do your research about the property itself, as well as the property manager.  Important things to take note of would be making sure the property is well maintained, finding out if there is free WiFi available, knowing if toiletries and/or linens included, and asking if there are cameras on the property, and if there are, where they are located.  It is important to look into the owner as well.  Do your due diligence here and read all the reviews available.  Many travel sites allow previous renters to leave reviews of the property and the property owners so make sure you know what and who you are dealing with.  Speak with the manager prior to booking your rental and if you have any doubts about it, it’s probably best to keep looking.

Read the fine print – When you sign a rental agreement, you are signing a contract.  Read the fine print and know what you are responsible for.  Are you responsible for doing the dishes and washing the linens before you leave?  What sorts of things may have your security deposit refund revoked?  Is the property manager available in case something breaks during your stay?  Make sure you read the entire rental agreement so that there is no question as to who is responsible for what.  This will help make sure you are protected from frivolous fees and avoid any stress while you’re on vacation.

Our staff is always here to help and we’ll be happy to help you find your perfect home away from home in Seaside Park!

It’s common knowledge that selling a home during the winter months is difficult, and it’s easy to understand why. People are busy with the holidays, the weather keeps people indoors, and no one is excited at the prospect of having to move during the winter.

All of this is doubly true when you’re talking about properties at the Jersey Shore. This is a summer-focused area, and the appeal of many of the properties we deal with lies in their potential as a place to be during the summer. Beach access. Water access. And so on.

But that doesn’t mean homes don’t sell during the winter. They do. You just need to keep a few things in mind to stand out. Here are five things that will help:

Clean the Yard

Appearance is even more important during the winter months than usual. You don’t have pleasant weather and sunny days to help add visual appeal to your home. Instead, you have to combat dreary weather and overcast skies.

This is why it’s essential to do a good exterior cleanup going into the winter months. Ensure any fallen leaves are raked and removed. Do one final round of weeding before the weather gets cold. Remove dead branches and other debris. And finally, give your gardens a layer of fresh mulch so they look crisp and new.

These small efforts might take you a Saturday, but the curbside appeal they will add during those down winter months is priceless.

Welcome the Sunlight

As we mentioned above, the winter months can be dim and dreary. Combat that by embracing whatever natural sunlight you can get in your home. When showing the property, have your blinds up and curtains wide open. Let the natural light pour in.

Also consider replacing any dim lightbulbs with bright, white LED bulbs. Doing these two things will make the house feel larger, more welcoming, and more inviting, all good traits when you are trying to sell your home.

Keep the House Warm

We know you’d prefer not to spend money on utilities for a house you may not even be living in anymore, but during the winter one of the uphill battles when trying to sell a home is just getting people to go out in the wet and cold.

Once they do, greeting them with a nice, warm house is an ideal way to instantly make them feel comfortable. It’s a subtle psychological effect that can really make your property feel more welcome. It’s not necessary to keep the heat on full blast all the time, either, just ensure it’s set to a nice warm temperature the day before anyone comes to view it.

Skip the Seasonal Décor

Decorations for Christmas, Halloween, and other seasonal holidays can be a lot of fun, but avoid them on a property you have on the market. They’ll prove to be a distraction when potential buyers are looking at the house.

More importantly, they set a person’s impression of your house to a specific time of year and get in the way of them imagining themselves there. You want your property to be a clean slate. Potential buyers should be able to walk in and imagine themselves in that space, including their own seasonal decorations. Avoid things that can get in the way of that.

Showcase Winter Amenities

For the most part, when you’re showing properties at the shore, potential buyers want to know about summer living: how close is the beach? Is the house on the water? Does it have a good backyard for summer gatherings? How far away is the Parkway? And so on.

But if you’re showing the house in the winter, that warm fireplace, cozy breakfast nook, or insulated garage space will seem far more inviting than at any other time of year. Take advantage of that. Highlight those features in addition to the summer amenities. It will make the property seem that much more attractive.

Selling your home during the winter can be tough, but it’s far from impossible.

To learn more about how we can help, contact us today!